Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Southern comfort....yum


Blackberry Cobbler
                                        

                                            Sunday we went to visit a friend, he wanted us to come over after 
                                 church and pick blue berries. Blue berries are not my favorite but he has 20
                                 overladen bushes and needs to share. I figured we could share as well. However
                                 when we get there he has pots and pots of blackberries. Now blackberries are 
                                 one of my all time favorite.. Yummy, delicious...Lot of childhood memories,
                                 buckets and bare feet. Thought I would share a favorite recipe.

                                                                                     Ingredients

                                                          3/4 cup buttermilk biscuit flour
                                                          3/4 cup sugar
                                                          1/4 stick of butter (about a half of stick)
                                                          3/4 cup of 1% milk
                                                          z dash of cinnamon 
                                                          2 cups of fresh blackberries (wash & drain) add sugar to taste

                                 Heat oven 350 degrees. In large baking dish, melt butter (you can melt the butter                                     either in the microwave or the oven). In a medium size bowl, mix flour & sugar,
                            then add milk, stir together, then set aside. Now place baking dish with melted butter
                            on counter top, pour in flour, milk & sugar over butter (no stirring). In a larger bowl add                               blackberries add sugar to taste. Finally pour blackberries into the center, no stirring.
                            Sprinkle top with cinnamon.
                             Place cobbler into the center of the oven. Bake 35-45 minutes or until the top is golden                                brown. Insert toothpick or butter knife into center to check for doneness
                            if they come out clean.  Allow to cool 10-15 minutes, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice 
                             cream. Yummy to your tummy .
                            

                                                   
                                  





Reflections


Reflections

This picture was taken on a lovely fall afternoon,
the water was calm and clear, not at all usual for the 
muddy Tar River.
The times we are living in are as muddy as this old river.
Good often appears as wrong and wrong appears as right.
A year ago a boy was killed while walking down
a dark street with a bag of skittles and a bottle of ice tea 
because he appeared to be in the wrong place. 
His killer was set free because he appeared
to be protecting in himself. He was armed and dangerous
but because we all believe we have the right to carry
weapons, a boy died. 
But what if the man would have stayed in the car as 
he was told by police? What if the man would have 
identified himself before approaching
the boy? 
What if the man would have simply asked the boy
"Do you live around here, are you lost,
can I give you a ride?
What if instead of suspicion & fear, grace and compassion 
were to have been offered...
 a child would have graduated from high school
and a man's life would not be changed forever.
Reflections ...
Love others as you would want to be loved.
Be Blessed this day as always.
Maria


Tuesday, July 9, 2013

G'morning ...the sun is finally shining again


         Good Morning everybody...the sun is finally shining again
        I am a morning girl, sleeping in for me means keeping my feet off the floor 
    until at least 7 am.  Yep up with the dawn that's me. I sleep with the curtains 
        open so I can catch the first light. I can't wait to be up and about,
     the only thing is I don't sleep alone so my poor husband, usually is covering
his face with his hands. My own true love.
Welcome again to my blog, a series of conversations with me 
 I'll be sharing my thoughts & prayers up here, 
maybe some recipes that I've found, photos I've taken
some crafts & lots of positive words. 
My day is full of conversations with God, pray without ceasing 
that's what His word says. 
I am a BELIEVER. 
You'll find,  I hope that my words 
are full of testimonies of His Grace. 
Without God,I truly believe
I would not be here..
I am 6+ year survivor of a hemorrhagic stroke, May 20th 2007
is the anniversary of my stroke. On that day my life changed forever.
I truly became A NEW CREATION in Christ.
                       It has not been easy, I had to walk away from many things, some things 
I loved and some not so much...But I have survived and it has 
been God's grace that carried me through. 
Love wins. When all else fails ..His Love remains.
Be Blessed
May His Sunshine follow you
thru the rain
Maria

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A Conversation with Maria: Welcome

A Conversation with Maria: Welcome: Welcome to my blog. A conversation with Maria.  I am a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister and hopefully a good friend.  I'm a caro...

A Conversation with Maria: Overflow

A Conversation with Maria: Overflow: Good morning folks.. These petunias remind me of God's love.  They are flowing over & beyond the container--the flower box....

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Overflow


Good morning folks..
These petunias remind me of God's love.
 They are flowing over & beyond the container--the flower box.
His love is amazing. He plants a small seed  in each of us & waters it with love and grace.
What shall we do with this wonderful gift?
Shall we keep all to ourselves, 
refusing to share the joy that has been given to us
or shall we live out the Great Commission given to those of us who believe?
The Great Commission asks us to go out and share the Good News 
with the lost, but that doesn't necessary mean exclusively overseas to 3rd world countries though that is admirable. Your world begins with you, your family, your friends and the circle grows.
If you can't show love to those near to you 
how can you love those who speak
a language you do not know.
Ah, heavy stuff for a Tuesday morning, let's get back to OVERFLOW.
God's love is exceedingly and abundantly more than enough for us.
He loves you. He loves you. He loves you. Soak in it. 
Share the overflow. Pour it out on all you meet.
Be Blessed.
Maria



Monday, June 24, 2013

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. A conversation with Maria.
 I am a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister and hopefully a good friend. 
I'm a carolina girl who loves God, her family, friends,
the beach, cross-stitch & sunflowers.
I enjoy taking pictures, though just amateur, 
I do have a good eye and love shots of nature.
Each day is a new day, a gift given to us by God.
Open Joyfully, expect good things, Love freely.
That's me Maria.